'Tajuk' biweekly magazine relaunched

JAKARTA (JP): While most nationwide media companies are lamenting the impact of the prolonged economic crisis on their existence, PT Gema Juang relaunched yesterday Tajuk as a biweekly magazine.

Aimed at top business executives and with a new look, Tajuk will focus on surveys and investigative reports to give the readers a deeper knowledge of contemporary issues, the magazine's general manager, Marah Sakti Siregar, said.

"Our market is the people who are concerned about this country, and do not merely consume entertainment news. We feel this is the right momentum," said Siregar, former chief editor of Tiras magazine and editor of the now-banned Tempo magazine.

Tajuk was first published in 1996 on a monthly basis. Publication was suspended last April because of an internal management conflict. The relaunched magazine has new management.

Siregar said that almost all the journalists hired by the company used to work at other magazines such as Tempo, Tiras, Warta Ekonomi, SWA and the previous incarnation of Tajuk.

Given the journalists' background, he said he was confident they had the capability to boost the magazine's sales. The cover price is Rp 7,800 (87 U.S. cents).

"We have had sufficient preparation and have enough human resources. We feel that the ongoing People's Consultative Assembly General Session is a huge challenge for serious journalists," he told reporters.

Siregar said the company printed 70,000 copies of its first issue.

"We predict that about 30,000 to 40,000 will be sold, while we will distribute 20,000 others for promotion," he said.

Siregar said that about Rp 7 billion had been invested for the first year. He estimated the publication would reach break-even point after three years. (09)